Report by our Time Trial Captain Simon Gent – Some more pictures from the day can be found in the Gallery
Of the eleven who signed up to ride this event, we managed nine to ride on the day (bad luck Dave Bamford regarding your Achilles and good to hear it’s on the mend).
The entire course was road work free – again thanks to Dave Bamford who through subtle negotiation managed to persuade a highways worker to delay his erecting a set of work lights right at the start of the course! The weather hinted at spring even with a number of persons braving shorts.
But let’s cut to the chase, who did how well? On our roll of honour we start with Mr S. Bateson who roared around the course in 1h 3m and some seconds (I won’t be placing exact times in this email as fatigue now clouds my brain) and had a juicy duel with Dean Lubin by all accounts. Lubin snuck it this time but if they come head to head again just watch this space.
Second fastest, Dave Barnes. I had the honour of him shaving four minutes off me and catch me with three or four miles to go. He really looked the part as he apparently sauntered by pushing a high gear with ease whilst I struggled with mid range gears. Ta Dave, you know how to make a man feel special! He also had a good old duel with the rider ahead of him and Dave ultimately saw him off. 1h 8m and something I think.
Then Mr Cocker or as he may call himself tonight ‘Kick meself Cocker’! Somehow missed his slot. Got 1 1/2 min penalty and still managed to come third fastest in the club! 1h 9m and something. I suspect this ride is particularly creditable because as any of you know who’ve had a go at TT, the biggest enemy is between your ears and those little gremlins can really talk you down. So well done I say for for dusting yourself off and putting in a fab time.
Next up Javier. He does TT all wrong. He rides at will, not steady pace. He has no TT bars. He smiles alot as he competes. No no no. And still he comes in at 1h 10m and something! I hope they appreciate you as much in Madrid as you deserve. Well done.
Then we have Rob ‘give it a go’ Windsor who thought he’d ride a TT bike on what is a tricky course. 1h 11m and something. And all on 5 hours sleep as he had to contend with a teenagers’ party the night before. I have a funny feeling he was last man standing at that party. Well done sir.
Then it was me with – and I can remember this succinctly – 1h 12m 57s. I am making that classic mistake now of thinking of it as 1h 12m and not 1h 13m. What can I say about me? I tell you what, I found it very hard mentally. I seemed to keep telling myself I was going rubbishly and really had to fight to push those thoughts to the back of my head. In the finish I was happy with my time because I tell you what I did not fancy it at the beginning! Felt nervous and a bit sick. Don’t know why. Can anybody else relate to that? Discuss
Then we had the ‘commuters’.. Mr Spencer Wilson and Mr Darren Cainey. They thought they’d cycle to the start to warm up and they did. Spencer’s TT bars were brilliant, they were very Greg Lemond a la 1989 which was a lovely touch on a) a bang up to date Cervelo and b) a touch of nostalgia in a sea of Carbon.
It really did remind me of the 1989 Tour de France.
Spencer got 1h 14m and something and So did Darren. I think Spencer edged Darren time wise but they cycled back together so I hope friendship hasn’t suffered. Neither made sounds of ‘Oh we must do this event again’. Come to think of it, neither did anybody else!
And last mention in dispatches goes to Anna G. The women’s race was really about what would Emma Trott do (virtually pro – rode on Nicole Cook’s team last year) and then who could sort it for second. And Anna was damned close. I know the other participants clocked 1h 21m something and Anna was slightly behind with 1h 22m something. I know though all the others had TT bars and/ or machines and Anna was on a road bike.
Does this make a difference? Hell yes. Spencer told us he read that somebody not on TT bars can lose up to six minutes on a 25 course so bloody well done Anna for keeping definitely in sight of your rivals.
How did we fair compared to the rest? There were ten guys under the hour. And they are professional. It is a serious quality field and we can hold our collective heads up I think. My thanks to you all for riding and to Lesley, Dave, Hugo and Stacey who provided good support on the course.
I’ll never do it again. See you all next year at it.
Simon
Results
Position Name Team Cat Time
1 Simon Gaywood Team Corley Cycles 0:58:36
2 Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport 0:58:54
3 Matthew Bottrill De Rosa RT 0:59:20
4 Darren Barclay Arctic – Premier Racing Team 0:59:46
5 Richard Prebble Candi TV – Pinarello RT V 0:59:51
6 Julian Ramsbottom De Rosa RT 0:59:58
7 Danny Axford Arctic – Premier Racing Team 1:00:30
8 James Perkins Zenith CC 1:00:32
9 Michael Broadwith Shorter Rochford RT 1:01:32
10 Brett Harwood Westbrook Cycles 1:02:24
11 Scott Walker De Rosa RT 1:02:25
12 Dean Lubin PCA Ciclos Uno 1:02:58
13 Jonathan Shubert Verulam CC 1:03:24
14 Simon Bateson East London Velo 1:03:50
15 Martin Garner De Rosa RT 1:04:10
16 Pnut Arnold API Metrow 1:04:59
17 Tom Lackerby De Rosa RT J 1:05:40
18 Daniel Bill Strafford CC 1:05:52
19 Jez Cox Team Bike and Run London 1:05:56
20 Darren Treadaway Shorter Rochford RT 1:06:10
20 David Vaughan Shorter Rochford RT 1:06:10
22 Hugh Vivian Finsbury Park CC V 1:06:17
23 Phil Lisher Team Welwyn 1:06:37
24 Nick Sparks Sheffield Triathlon Club 1:06:55
25 Gavin Rumbles CC Luton V 1:07:20
26 Tom Gosbee Team Welwyn J 1:07:22
27 Murdo Jamieson Kingston Wheelers 1:07:24
28 Sam Hayes Bedfordshire Road Club 1:07:57
29 David Barnes East London Velo 1:08:02
30 Philip Murrell Finsbury Park CC 1:08:06
31 Emma Trott VC Londres L 1:08:24
32 Stewart Wilson Roy Pink Cycles RT 1:09:11
33 James Cocker East London Velo 1:09:15
34 David Staff VTTA East Anglia V 1:09:28
35 Desmond *CENSORED* Kenton Road Club V 1:09:48
36 Dave Candy Shorter Rochford RT V 1:10:22
37 Neil Hornett Chelmer CC 1:10:36
38 Michael Metayer Kingston Wheelers 1:10:39
39 Nicholas Latimer North Road CC 1:10:47
40 Javier Carabias East London Velo 1:10:57
41 Simon Layfield Team Welwyn V 1:10:58
42 Alex Peeke Welwyn Wheelers 1:11:05
43 Robert Windsor East London Velo V 1:11:09
44 Neil Marrin Finsbury Park CC 1:11:37
45 Alex Anderson Welwyn Wheelers J 1:11:45
46 Steve James North Road CC 1:11:58
47 Alex Turner FVS TRI 1:12:13
48 Gray Turnock Finsbury Park CC V 1:12:44
49 Robert Engers Shorter Rochford RT V 1:12:55
50 Simon Gent East London Velo 1:12:57
51 Scarlett Parker Rollapaluza CC 1:13:12
52 Daniel Young Alltrax 1:13:44
53 Tony Stott Westbrook Cycles V 1:13:54
54 Jeff Robinson North Road CC 1:14:06
55 Spencer Wilson East London Velo 1:14:28
56 Darren Cainey East London Velo V 1:14:55
57 Philip Young Hertfordshire Wheelers V 1:15:05
58 Avie Yiangou Whitewebbs CC V 1:15:07
59 Tom Silverlock Hemel Hempstead CC V 1:15:27
60 Ralph Dadswell Antelope Racing Team TV 1:16:36
61 Michael Clark FVS TRI V 1:17:10
62 Tony Shoesmith North Road CC 1:17:48
63 Simon Best North Road CC V 1:18:06
64 Graham Freer Finsbury Park CC V 1:19:19
65 Tim Chandler Welwyn Wheelers 1:19:31
66 Andrew Ilsley A5 Rangers 1:19:32
67 Barry Page Hertfordshire Wheelers V 1:19:55
68 Lyndon Lewis Bedfordshire Road Club V 1:20:05
69 Sue Fenwick Crest CC LV 1:20:42
70 Samuel Parker Finsbury Park CC 1:20:46
71 David Ledgerton Hitchin Nomads CC V 1:21:48
72 Caroline Harding Finchley RT L 1:21:55
73 Anna Grindy East London Velo L 1:22:59
74 Andrew Porter Welwyn Wheelers V 1:23:20
75 Warren Cobb North Road CC V 1:30:39
